Large-scale demonstrations are set to take place across Denmark and Greenland on Saturday, as thousands of people rally against United States President Donald Trump’s controversial proposals to acquire Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory.
Social media activity and event pages indicate widespread participation, with marches and rallies planned in Copenhagen, Aarhus, Aalborg, Odense, and Greenland’s capital, Nuuk. Organisers say the protests aim to defend Greenland’s democracy and fundamental human rights against what they describe as an external threat.
“The aim is to send a clear and unified message of respect for Greenland’s democracy and fundamental human rights,” stated Uagut, an association representing Greenlanders in Denmark, on its website.
The demonstrations follow Trump’s remarks on Friday, in which he suggested he “may put a tariff” on countries that oppose his plans regarding Greenland. The statement came amid rising tensions over the president’s repeated suggestions that the United States could take control of the Arctic island, which spans more than 2 million square kilometers and has a population of roughly 57,000.
In Nuuk, the protest is scheduled to begin at 4:00 p.m. local time (11:00 p.m. Singapore time). Demonstrators plan to march to the US consulate waving Greenlandic flags, expressing opposition to what organisers have called “the United States’ illegal plans to take control of Greenland.”
Meanwhile, Copenhagen’s rally will start at 12:00 p.m. local time (7:00 p.m. Singapore time) and include a scheduled stop outside the US embassy. Organisers hope the visibility of the capital’s protest will reinforce the message of unity among Greenlanders both in Denmark and on the island itself.
“Recent events have put Greenland and Greenlanders in both Greenland and Denmark under pressure,” Uagut chairwoman Julie Rademacher said in a statement to AFP. “When tensions rise and people go into a state of alarm, we risk creating more problems than solutions for ourselves and for each other. We appeal to Greenlanders in both Greenland and Denmark to stand together.”
The protests coincide with a two-day visit to Copenhagen by a bipartisan delegation of US Congress members, who aimed to reassure Danish and Greenlandic authorities that President Trump’s territorial ambitions do not reflect the position of the American people. European nations have also demonstrated support for Greenland through military reconnaissance efforts in the Arctic, which a Danish general confirmed included US participation.
Senior Trump adviser Stephen Miller told Fox News on Friday that “positive early talks” had taken place at a White House meeting earlier in the week between officials from the US, Denmark, and Greenland. However, he reiterated that Trump’s position remained unchanged.
“They want us to spend hundreds of billions of dollars defending a territory for them that is 25 percent bigger than Alaska at 100 percent American expense, but they say while we do this, it belongs 100 percent to Denmark,” Miller said.
The Greenlandic protests are being organised by Uagut, the citizens’ movement “Hands off Greenland,” and Inuit, an umbrella group of Greenlandic associations. The organisers coordinated the demonstrations to coincide with the visit of the US lawmakers, ensuring heightened international attention.
On Facebook, more than 900 residents of Greenland indicated they would take part in Saturday’s rally. For a territory with a small population, this level of engagement is significant, reflecting widespread concern over foreign interference in domestic affairs.
“With this demonstration, we want to show that we are taking action, that we stand together, and that we support our politicians, diplomats, and partners,” said Kristian Johansen, one of the rally’s organisers.
Avijaja Rosing-Olsen, another organiser, emphasised the broader implications of the protests. “We demand respect for our country’s right to self-determination and for us as a people. We demand respect for international law and international legal principles. This is not only our struggle, it is a struggle that concerns the entire world.”
The issue of Greenland’s sovereignty is particularly sensitive given its unique status. While Denmark retains responsibility for foreign affairs and defense, Greenland manages its own internal governance and enjoys significant autonomy. Analysts have warned that any attempt to bypass the island’s self-determination could trigger political instability in the Arctic, complicate US-Danish relations, and draw criticism from other nations monitoring Arctic affairs.
Public opinion in Greenland strongly opposes US acquisition. According to a poll released in January 2025, 85 percent of Greenlanders are against joining the United States, while only six percent expressed support.
The planned demonstrations are expected to send a strong message to both Washington and Copenhagen. Organisers hope to underline that Greenland’s future decisions must be made by its own people, not through external pressure or negotiation behind closed doors.
Observers note that the protests also highlight broader global concerns over Arctic sovereignty, natural resources, and strategic military positioning. Greenland’s location, bordering the Arctic Ocean and close to North American and European territories, makes it a geopolitical hotspot, attracting interest from the US, China, and European powers.
Saturday’s events are expected to unfold peacefully, with organisers emphasizing disciplined, law-abiding participation. They hope the rallies will demonstrate the unity and resolve of Greenlanders in defending their homeland’s autonomy while sending a clear signal to international actors that Greenland cannot be treated as a negotiable asset.
